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    Monkey Bar

    4.3 (497 reviews)
    Closed 11:45 am - 10:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    MONKEY BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Atmosphere
    Audrey B.

    Came here for a business lunch. The monkey bread with truffle infused butter was delicious. I got the wagyu burger and the smash burger texture was divine! Atmosphere is so unique in there - It's so dark and dreamy inside. Our waiters were very attentive and gave us incredible recommendations.

    Whitney D.

    Getting a reservation here is very hard. One just popped up in my Resy app for lunch though, so I went for it. It was my first time here although, it has been around for ages. The front part where you first walk in is the bar area with some tables. This restaurant is on the darker side and brings you back in time. Once you walk in further that is where the main dinning room is. This is also on the darker side as you can maybe tell by my photos. The wall paper and art around the restaurant is cool and there are some monkey statues around the restaurant. I was seated in a corner table in a booth area that seemed to be for at least 2-3 people. I thought for sure they would seat me at the bar area. I had a wonderful waitress whose name I think was Taylor but I could be wrong. I ordered the Monkey bread to start off with. It's a very buttery bread with truffle and parm cheese on top. I have alot of allergies and I was searching online if I could even have truffles as I have a nut allergy. So, I asked the waitress and she said she had never heard this. But, she came back to me and told me that White truffle grows near or like over where Almonds grow from but that, they don't use white truffle so I was all good. Well, this was super nice of her to check for me. I had no idea she was going to do this. She said the restaurant has strict protocols when it comes to food allergies. I then got for my main dish the double cheese burger with onions and pickles. To drink I had the cucumber martini. WOW everything was pretty darn good!! I passed on dessert. If you get a chance or a reservation pops up in your resy to go, even if it is for lunch..I highly say go for it.

    Gerald H.

    Made a plan to reserve a table 21 days previous to when we would be in the city - and was able to spike one. There is currently construction and scaffolding in front of the place, but you'll see signage where to go at the opening of the scaffolding. We walked in, past the bar and checked in. We were seated within 5 minutes. I ordered a bourbon old-fashioned and we ordered crab rangoon as a starter. There were a lot of them and the sweet chili sauce was great. For my entree, I ordered the vodka rigatoni and a side of buttered broccoli. The vodka rigatoni was really good - liked the flavor and a decent size of pasta. The broccoli was really good for some reason to me. Also tried the truffle mac and cheese which was incredibly rich and tasted great. As a dessert, we had the chocolate pie which was dense, rich, and topped with a huge dollop of whipped topping. I really liked the atmosphere of the place, loud roaring 20s style with jazz playing. Plus I kept finding myself checking out the mural on the wall. Try it for yourself - but worth the fight to get a table.

    Grey Goose Martini ($26), Paloma ($24)
    Elena N.

    Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 Time: 2pm Party of: 5 Meal: Boozy Lunch Reservation Made Thru: Resy about two weeks prior *Rothaus Pilsner ($14) *Affogato ($8) *Dirty Blue ($24) *Grey Goose Martini ($26) *Clase Azul Margarita ($36.95) *Espresso Martini ($24.95) *Cosmopolitan ($24.95) *Vesper ($23.95) *Paloma ($24) *Highland Park 12 year Double ($33) *Coke ($8) *Chutoro ($39.99) *Smoked Whitefish Caesar ($27.99) *Tuna & Avocado Nicoise Salad ($36.99) *Baked Crab Cake ($34.99) *Miso Glazed Black Cod ($44.99) *Ribeye Steak Fries ($55.99) *Truffle Monkey Bread ($34.99) *Broiled Asparagus ($16.99) *Sales Tax ($47.99) A friend had sent a list of hard to get reservations and Monkey Bar was on it. When I randomly checked Resy, I found a lunch opening so decided to grab it. They do charge a fee to book a table with them, so for five people, it was $11.45 +$1.02 tax = $12.47. This is not applied towards your bill and I assume just a fee for using Resy. The vibe is very, dare I say Mad Men? Dark dim lighting, big booths, white tablecloths. We read the monkey bread was a must order so of course we had to try it. I adored the decadent fluffy truffle, cheese, bread combo, but I wasn't a huge fan of the sweetness. It was nice to try tho. I was pescatarian at the time, so didn't try the steak. But everyone seemed to enjoy it. Cocktails are a must. Our party enjoyed a nice variety. They are definitely pricey, but we were on vacation so it was go big or go home. Lol! Our server was great. Friendly and attentive. A fun spot for a boozy lunch. I just wish they didn't charge a fee for rezzies. Seems kinda nickel and dimey. REVIEW #4011

    Smoked Whitefish Caesar
    Sarah H.

    From the moment we sat down, the service set the tone for the entire experience. Our server was incredibly warm, upbeat, and full of energy--one of those people who genuinely elevates a meal. I only wish I could remember her name because she deserves the recognition. We started with drinks, and mine ended up being a surprise standout. I ordered the coconut margarita, slightly hesitant since I'm not usually a margarita fan--but it completely won me over. It struck a perfect balance and leaned just enough into the coconut to make it feel unique without being overpowering. My sister-in-law, who's pregnant, had a non-alcoholic Ritual margarita and loved it, noting how convincingly it mimicked the real thing. Since we were sharing, we got to try a good mix of the menu. The monkey bread came first--definitely a splurge at $34, but it's one of those fun, indulgent starters that's worth ordering at least once. While I wouldn't call it the best bread I've ever had, I also wouldn't change anything about it. The crab rangoon was another highlight. Having it made with real crab made a noticeable difference, and the dipping sauces complemented it really well. It felt like a more elevated take on something familiar. For mains, the French dip was a hit. The meat was incredibly tender, the bread had that ideal crusty exterior, and the au jus was packed with flavor--I was very glad I ordered extra. It pulled the whole dish together. We also tried the smoked whitefish Caesar, which was the only dish that didn't quite land for me. It was a well-made, fresh salad, but the smoked fish flavor was a bit overpowering and took over the balance of the dish. Even though we were too full for dessert, the restaurant surprised us with a scoop of strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce to celebrate my sister-in-law's babymoon. It ended up being one of the most memorable bites of the meal--we're still talking about how good that ice cream was. We arrived right at 11:45, and by the time we left, the place was absolutely buzzing. It's clearly a popular spot, and for good reason. Between the lively atmosphere, strong service, and well-executed food, I'd highly recommend making a reservation if you can.

    Double Cheeseburger and Truffle Mac & Cheese
    Tahirah R.

    Katie Laura Monkey Bar is an experience. A challenging, wannabe exclusive experience. The hostess, Laura, is insensitive and can use more training in regard to being a host. When I arrived, I asked to be placed on the wait list (knowing it would be 2 hours... even for one person). She was cold and didn't even look at me when talking. We I arrived back for my walk in reservation, I went to check in and instead of speaking with me she ignored me to help the person behind me. I've already left a review with the restaurant and the team reached out with apologies. I hope she will be trained better. My waitress Katie, however, was an absolute gem. Friendly, engaging, and helpful. Food wise I had the truffle monkey bread - overrated. It's just sweet bread without the truffle butter. Now that butter is the star! The regular cheeseburger is to die for and the truffle mac is explosive! Skip the bread. The cosmo was delicious. This place knows what it's doing with food. Walk ins are seated at the front bar area it seems. The actual restaurant is pretty.. if you get a chance to see it at all.

    Bethany B.

    This meal was absolutely amazing and definitely lives up to the hype. The fight for the reservation was a nightmare but I'm so glad we persevered. The ambiance is sexy: dimly lit, well decorated, just a vibe. It's not too loud although you are seated pretty close to the people next to you. We started with the monkey bread. Oh. My. God. I will be dreaming of this bread for the rest of my life. I didn't think it could get better but then we dipped it in the accompanying dip. 1000/10. We got the tuna tartare and it was excellent. Light and tasty. We also got a Caesar salad. That was the weakest item. To be honest it wasn't even average it was just bad - something tasted completely off with it? For our entree we split the wagyu burger and got the truffle Mac and cheese and the mushrooms. Every single thing was amazing. I'm not even a huge fan of Mac and cheese but I'd have eaten a whole vat of this. Truly an amazing experience and I will fight my way for a reservation just to go back.

    Courtney E.

    The place is super cute. Def a date night place that is romantic in my opinion. I think I panic ordered - I was letting other past and future reservations play into what I wanted to order here so I got salmon. Which I love, dont get me wrong. But, that mac and cheese couldve done me over by itsself. As well as the crab rangoon. The chocolate pie was good to share as well. I would like to comeback and try something else another time. Looked like they had a good amount of variety here - between steak, italian etc. I only hated how when I was seated, I had to scoot in the small opening and then plop down on a couch. Shoulvde just moved the table myself - its always a gamble doing this. I popped some guys menu with my backside as I was scooting in.

    menu
    Britney B.

    Monkey Bar absolutely lived up to the hype. The drinks were STRONG in the best way possible, the kind where you actually taste the liquor without losing the flavor. The truffle monkey bread was to die for..the truffle flavor was rich and noticeable without being overpowering. But the real star of the night was the ribeye steak frites. I genuinely don't think I've ever had a steak melt in my mouth the way this one did. The second it touched my tongue, it basically turned to water. Perfectly cooked, insanely tender, and worth every bite. Definitely one of my favorite meals in NYC.

    Johnny N.

    Walking into Monkey Bar had me feeling like I was pulling up to the Great Gatsby's crib. I felt like Owen Wilson traveling through time in Midnight in Paris, as I stood at the top of the staircase over-looking the Art Deco themed dining room. It just felt like somewhere I was not supposed to be. I had to lock in though, as I was really just here to review the burger. I can't let the pretty murals and quintessential 1920s ambiance throw me off. The double cheeseburger ran $38.99 if you add the recommended bacon, and weighed in at 12.5 oz which puts it in the 60th percentile of burger weight. I hate to be the guy complaining about price all the time, but $13.99 for 8.6 oz of fries is just so crazy to me. The Ribeye Steak Frites was only $3 more than a burger and fries. While my hopes were high, the burger was a miss for me. Maybe it was just an off day, but the patties tasted plain and they lacked that punchy, beef forward flavor that is standard for the greats. 6.5/10 for me. Michael Beasely comes to mind. All the tools to be great, but just could never really put it together. However, the rest of the food, the ambiance, and the service were PHENOMENAL. I've never shook off a miss better. Anytime my water thought about being below halfway empty, they filled it. Crumbs were brushed between courses, and our server, Nelson, had me feeling like a lifelong friend by the end of the meal. He even recommended a burger spot in Virginia Beach that he said could top Red Hook. Carrot cake went CRAZY too. I couldn't wrap this review up without shouting out that carrot cake. At this point, if I was visiting New York for a weekend and could only do one nice dinner, it would be Monkey Bar. I'd just get the steak frites. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

    Chocolate Cream Pie
    Joseph G.

    Had Memorial Day lunch for my brother in laws birthday. Great place food was really good. The monkey bread is to die for. I had the short rib stroganoff it was so good! Recommend the meatballs too. I had the Oaxacan Old Fashioned very good choice. Food came out quickly and very good service. Place was not loud great atmosphere. This place is definitely worth the hype.

    Stormy M.

    What a fun environment. It's super dark as you walk inside, there are lamps on the tables with orange/red shades. The lighting is very dim and there are sconces on the walls that highlight a few murals of, wait for it... monkeys! It was so crowded on a Friday around 3pm, that we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. I ordered a burger, super juicy and well flavored, but the meat was cooked rare. Darn! I didn't think to make a meat temp request. The fries were very good and they had plenty of bartenders working to minimize the wait time. I think I'll come back and try their Monkey bread as I heard it was the thing to order.

    Truffle monkey bread
    Taylor S.

    After wanting to try Monkey Bar for YEARS, we were disappointed. Everything we ate was good, but not mind-blowing. That would be fine if it wasn't for the price. Further, the service was seriously lacking. Our water cups were often left empty for long periods, and when packing our leftovers, the staff did not include the truffle butter with our monkey bread starter, which was $35, nor did they include the horseradish cream or the au jus with our French dips, which are crucial components of that meal. After paying $350 for 2 people, this felt incredibly lazy and stingy and left a bad taste in our mouth. We expected to love Monkey Bar, but we were left disappointed by the experience.

    Truffle Monkey Bread

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    Monkey Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Monkey Bar

    Do they allow walk ins for 1?

    Yes

    How's the music in here?

    Jazz is played as background music.

    Are kids 7-12 years old welcome?

    We ordered for delivery, but I can’t see why not.

    Reservation needed for bar area?

    No, first come first serve.

    Is there a dress code?

    I would say after work crowd so on the dressier side. No sneakers or shorts for men. Dress to impress.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Valerie

    Valerie

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Came for Brunch on a Sunday . Great food (try the shrimp &…read moreGrits- different but really good). Live music is fabulous (Danny Lipsitz) and the drinks are perfect. Of all the places to go In New York, Glad we stopped here . The attentive service (Bar and Restaurant) made the experience even better. Great job Valerie's !!

    Came here for a slightly early dinner after a Broadway show with a party of 4 on a Sunday evening…read more We had a reservation, but it didn't seem like we would have needed one, but I suppose better safe than sorry. The ambiance feels straight of the golden age, which is an aesthetic I'm certainly a sucker for. Even their robust cocktail menu fits the bill and is one of the prettiest menus I've ever had the joy of perusing. Staff was able to sit us a little bit ahead of our reservation which was also much appreciated. Wait staff was also very helpful and attentive, I don't think I've ever had my water glass so topped off! Starting off with cocktails, this place is a gin bar through and through and you'd be making a mistake if you didn't try one of their many options. I went with the 10,000 words, which you simply just give a spirit of your choice (I picked gin of course) and whether you antes) wanted your drink shaken or stirred and the bartender does the rest, so a bit of a surprise! I wound up with their version of The Last Word which was delightfully citrusy but I was hoping I'd wind up with something a little more adventurous app things considered. My girlfriend got the blackberry G&T, which was not only very pleasing to look at but delicious to boot. For food, we started with splitting some zucchini blossoms and beef cheek bao buns (both come in portions of 3). Both were tasty, but I love a good bao bun and these were so light and pillowy, I could have just went for an order of those for my main course. For the entree I went for the roasted half chicken, perhaps the most unassuming choice on the menu but this was maybe the best roast chicken I've ever had. Prepared perfectly, cooked to perfection, excellent portion size, and the kicker of it all was the stunning gravy that I was tempted to lick my plate for. Chicken is very easy to screw up, and they nailed it on all fronts here. My girlfriend went for the Valerie Signature burger with white cheddar and this thing did not mess around! A very rich patty, cooked to her temperature of choice served alongside some garlic truffle fries that made an American classic feel just a little more elevated. Our experience was delightful and I'd love to comeback here again, especially to check out more of the cocktail menu and soak in more of that golden age aura the place gives.

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    Valerie
    Valerie
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    Friedman's

    Friedman's

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Had reservations for 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We got there about three…read moreminutes late, but they seated us within 5 minutes in a booth. It was our first time eating at a Friedman's location. It had a nice diner feel to it, with a mix of booths and tables. The brunch menu has a variety of breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and burgers, starters, and entrees (fish tacos, grain bowl, fried chicken). I like that several of the items are naturally gluten free, and some can be made gluten free by request. We decided to go with three breakfast items from the brunch menu: I got the shakshuka, my sister got the Nova Benny, and we got the lemon ricotta pancakes to share. All 3 dishes were great. The shashuka came with grilled ciabatta, perfect for dipping into the sunny side eggs and tomato sauce. My sister loved that the poached eggs and smoked salmon of the Nova Benny came on top of a crispy potato latke. The pancakes were fluffy and the lemon ricotta and lemon zest elevated their flavor. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he asked us if we had any allergies when he took our order. He came by several times to check on us and refill water. I would return to Friedman's when I'm in the Herald Square area, or check out one of their other locations in the city.

    Came on a busy Thursday morning at nine am. Got a decaf iced vanilla latte and a nova Benny and the…read moreMac and cheese. And lemme just say the food came out sooo quick. The Benedict was so delicious. I've never had it on a crispy hash brown type before. It was good and a massive portion. Mac and cheese was alright, though I would probably opt out of it next time. I was so full I totally forgot to drink my latte but the latte was good too. Ambiance was nice clean and very busy.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Vanilla Cafe Latte

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    La Pecora Bianca

    La Pecora Bianca

    4.2
    (607 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    This is a great place for italian food. It has an upscale feel and friendly staff. The white lamb…read moretheme is recurring in the decor. We got their garganelli, tagliatelle, and ravioli pastas. For dessert, the iconic tiramisu. Garganelli- This has a nice, arugula pesto sauce that has a rich garlicky finish. It's enhanced with roasted mushrooms and sharp pecorino. Tagliatelle- You get a rich pork and beef bolognese. The house made pasta is cooked to perfection. Pretty satisfying! Ravioli- This is a light, seasonal dish with pumpkin, brown butter, and sage. The sauce complements the sweet pumpkin and the brown butter adds a nuttiness. Tiramisu- This dessert was too cute to eat! It was decorated with a meek looking model of their namesake lamb. Nobody wanted to ruin its face so we slowly ate this from the outside in. The espresso it strong, complemented by the creamy marscapone layers. Textures and flavors were perfectly balanced. Great experience overall!

    We were a party of nine looking to have one last (memorable) meal before visiting relatives from…read moreEurope were headed back across the pond and we decided The White Sheep (thank you, Duolingo!) across from Bryant Park was the place to go. From the outside it didn't look like much but after passing through the two sets of glass doors... It's packed. And lively. And (really) loud. And it was only a Tuesday night?! (How are all of these people living so high on the hog, without a care in the world?!) We were escorted off to a little tucked-away enclave near the back, but the restaurant was just too boisterous and we had to shout just to talk to people at the other end of the table. We got our menus and there was a bit of 'sticker shock' on my part, I can't lie. "We're in NYC, what did you expect?" - the Mrs. whispered when she saw my eyes go wide. But $38 for chicken parm? (Which is what I went with after seeing it had its own little "parm-fection" hype on the menu.) And $36 for the Branzino (which consisted of one fillet on a small bed of wilted spinach)? Our table dabbled all over the place and for the most part everyone really enjoyed their meals. The food they're knocking out is legit, for sure. But the bill came out to over $60 a person (including the tip, but we didn't have apps or dessert and half of us just had water), which hurts when you're a cheap-o like myself. Our waitress was awesome (and she didn't even seem fazed when I tried to rattle her that we were going to split the check onto nine different credit cards... but we only used one). And Bryant Park (right across the street) was the perfect nightcap on a lovely spring evening.

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    Dining area
    Dining area
    Vodka pasta
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    Monkey Bar - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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